Emma Raducanu reveals intention to play Wimbledon despite leg injury before Grand Slam - 'Risk is always a factor'
Published 28/06/2026 at 18:36 GMT+1
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Emma Raducanu says she has "pushed beyond anything" that she would for "any other tournament" to play at Wimbledon after her preparations were hampered by a leg injury. The third Grand Slam of the season begins on Monday, June 29, with Raducanu slated to face Antonia Ruzic.
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British No. 1 Raducanu started her grass season in encouraging fashion by reaching the final at Queen’s. But she then pulled out of Nottingham and was reportedly seen at Wimbledon wearing a protective boot after cancelling several practice sessions.
There were further concerns when she cut short her practice with Anna Kalinskaya on Saturday. However, Raducanu appeared in good spirits when she practised on Sunday before speaking to the media and declaring her intent to play the Grand Slam.
”That's the plan right now, to play,” said Raducanu, who faces Croatia's Ruzic on Court No. 1 from 13:00 UK time. ”I'm going to do everything with my team in terms of treatment, and that's the current plan.”
Raducanu, the No. 30 seed, has had a disrupted season, missing two months from March to May owing to a post-viral illness. She played just two clay matches, losing both, before her run to the final at Queen’s.
”I have a lower-leg niggle that I've been dealing with since before Queen's, actually from the back end of the clay-court season,” she said.
”I've been managing it. I think it's something that I'd say recently has probably, after Queen's maybe, during that week, was a lot of load for me. Five matches after having not competed for a while, I think it was just a lot of load.Â
”But yeah, I'm just managing it with my team as best as I possibly can, exhausting all options and doing what we can.”
Raducanu has twice made the fourth round at Wimbledon in four appearances and last year was beaten in the third round by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. She could face Sabalenka again at the same stage this time around.
”I think risk is always a factor,” added Raducanu about her decision to play. ”I think a lot of players are probably managing things. I think there are certain tournaments you're willing to do more for, put yourself on the line more for, risk more for. For me, of course, Wimbledon is that.Â
”I think I probably pushed beyond anything that I would for any other tournament. That's for a fact. It's just to what extent.”
Raducanu’s run at Queen’s had seen her play some of her best tennis since her shock US Open victory in 2021.
Asked about the disappointment of that strong week being followed by another injury setback, she said: ”It's been tricky. I had a great week at Queen's. All I want to do is to keep building on that momentum.
”I've had a tough start to the season, a lot of time out. I think hearing and feeling this is difficult. I have great people around me. I think that's one thing that's really been helping in this latest setback. I think having their support, they're really in it with me. It means a lot to have that.”
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